Keith Houlemard will take on an executive position at the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA).
According to a news release sent to AFROTECH, Houlemard will succeed Ken Bentley as the APGA Tour’s CEO. Bentley created the APGA in 2010 alongside professional golfer Adrian Stills and has attracted minority golfers to the sport as well as sponsors that include Cisco, Farmers Insurance, Bridgestone, and Mastercard.
While Bentley is passing on the torch to Houlemard, he will continue to be engaged with the company, holding the position of chairman of the board of directors.
“It has been an honor to work on behalf of the members of the APGA Tour over the past 13 years. I am so proud of their perseverance and all they have accomplished on and off the golf course,” Bentley expressed in a news release. “Looking back to when we started, it is truly amazing how much the APGA Tour has grown. I am grateful for the support of sponsors, donors, the APGA Tour staff, our board, and family and friends who all have a passion for helping minority golfers pursue their dreams in professional golf. There isn’t a better person than Keith to lead the APGA into the future and I can’t wait to see the continued impact that the APGA Tour can have on the sport.”
As Houlemard takes the reign of leadership, he will carry into his role more than 30 years of experience at Nike. Over the course of his career with the major athletic apparel brand, he held key titles including president of the Jordan Brand, vice president and general manager of Nike’s Olympic Games division, and vice president and general manager of Nike’s EMEA running division.
Beyond his post at Nike, Houlemard reveals his focus area has remained on the youth. Through his new role at the APGA, he will be able to pave more opportunities for the youth and underserved communities.
Houlemard shared in a statement:
“The APGA brings together a few of my great passions. The first being the love of sport and my desire to return to one where I have great passion. Secondly, I believe in creating opportunities for underserved communities to participate at sports’ highest levels. Lastly, the APGA Foundation’s work to impact youth with opportunities in sport is where I have been focused since retiring from Nike.”
Houlemard also is a co-founder of an AI-led platform in the dining realm, FOODe, and is an angel investor. He attended San Diego State University and earned a B.S. in business finance. Furthermore, he serves on several boards such as the APGA, the Maurice Lucas Foundation, and the Black Fives Foundation.
